Best platform to open my first Stocks+shares ISA

sikas

Hi, I plan to open my first ISA and lump my full allowance into an index tracker fund

Now i guess the things im looking for are low fees, and a relatively easy to navigate site

which platform would you recommend?

Thanks,

C

xylophone

http://monevator.com/category/investing/passive-investing-investing/

http://monevator.com/work-out-cheapest-platform/

nb0825

sikas wrote: »

Hi, I plan to open my first ISA and lump my full allowance into an index tracker fund

Now i guess the things im looking for are low fees, and a relatively easy to navigate site

which platform would you recommend?

Thanks,

C

Which index tracker? Ever heard of portfolio diversification? What are your objectives with the money? 5, 10, 20, 30 year growth?

These are all important points to consider before "lumping" it.

EdGasket

x-o at £5.95 a deal and no other charges. So you could buy a Vanguard World ETF (low fund charge) in there; job done.

sikas

HI nb0825, thanks for your reply, i am most likely gonna go for the 'Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund' - Trustnet shows it has a pretty good record for the past 5 years

As for objectives...just to grow it, i plan to not touch it for as long as possible, an open a different ISA each year for as long as i can afford it

As for portfolio diversification, im prob 40% property, 15% p2p, 10% misc and 35% cash, so an ISA was gonna be my next branch of diversification


Any advice?

AlanP_2

sikas wrote: »

HI nb0825, thanks for your reply, i am most likely gonna go for the 'Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund' - Trustnet shows it has a pretty good record for the past 5 years

As for objectives...just to grow it, i plan to not touch it for as long as possible, an open a different ISA each year for as long as i can afford it

As for portfolio diversification, im prob 40% property, 15% p2p, 10% misc and 35% cash, so an ISA was gonna be my next branch of diversification


Any advice?

Is that fund available in the UK as I couldn't see it on Vanguard UK's website?

You don't need to open a different ISA each year you can add to an existing one.

Whilst adding some kind of S&S element to your overall portfolio helps with diversification in a broad sense I suspect the comment was more aimed at diversifying within the S&S element - an ISA in your situation by the sounds of it. Have a read on monevator they cover Asset Allocation pretty well.

From what I could see via google this fund covers the total US market and is therefore not very diversified as it is focusing on one market only. What about UK, Europe, Asia, Japan & Emerging Markets.

The US may represent ~50% of world stocks but there is another 50% you might want to have a slice of as well.

An ISA is just a "wrapper" for some type of investment, as is a Pension.

Depending on your age and retirement "plans" the pension option may suit you better. It depends on what you are investing for and what date you are targeting as well as your overall financial situation, family situation and plans.

Eco_Miser

sikas wrote: »

open a different ISA each year

Why?

Why not just pay more into the same ISA each year? You can still diversify inside the ISA if you want.

Sanctioned_Parts_List

Boring Money has reviewed a few platforms for ease of use etc...

ToiletLicker

Hi Eco Miser when you say 'Why not just pay more into the same ISA each year.'
Does that mean I can keep paying into a stock and shares ISA over the years whilst also paying into a cash ISA with a different provider?
Many Thanks for your help in advance.

ColdIron

Yes it does, as long as the combined contributions are within the annual allowance

ToiletLicker

Thank you ever so much for your help/response/clarity ColdIron.
Tis deeply appreciated!